LB-080 - Founder's IPA - 2022 -The Brut
We chose a Brut IPA - " the champagne of bottled beer" - for this year's iteration. The crew remains as silly as ever even in these challenging times. Luddite emeritus Ned Wort the Churlish proclaims that this year's Founders is "The Best of the Best of all Luddite Brews."
This year's Founder's IPA is an update of LB-061, the 2018 Maggie VII (albeit the 2022 version omits the spruce tips). Our intent was to produce a clean, dry, highly carbonated beer with hop-driven notes of white wine.
Bitterness is derived not from hops but from the carbonation while a straight forward grain bill produces a balanced malt flavor. The brew is double dry-hopped to accentuate the flavor and aroma of the southern hemisphere hops known for their wine like qualities.
A three stage pressurized tank transfer (dry hop 1 - dry hop 2 - conditioning) produces stunning clarity without filtration or the introduction of (nasty) oxygen.
Tasting Notes
FleaSoc Says... Cracked one for lunch. Nedwort would not do well with avian pantaloons. Met the clarity goal. Turned my glass into a magnifier. Aroma to style. Flavor is balanced malt with the intended carbon bitterness over hop bitterness. I did the frozen glass as suggested which highlighted the crisp, effervescent mouthfeel. Sugar did it's job -- achieving the 6.6%ABV with a final gravity barely over 1. The sugar stepped aside to highlight a clean dryness. I expected a bit more sourness with the acidulated in the grain bill. But I was not disappointed. I think it suggests one opportunity to mess with a v2. I don't get any particular fruit out of it. But the amylazed carbonated wine character definitely comes through -- with the clear maltiness expressed throughout the pour. All in all a 'clear' success. Although I do miss the spruce.
Brewed on May 28, 2022 and kegged on June 6, 2022. You can view the recipe here.